Four falls ago, on the eve of the 2009 Marietta mayoral election, we wrote in this space that Marietta’s most successful mayors have been those with the force of personality and leadership skills to transcend the built-in limits of the position and see their vision become reality. And we recommended candidate Steve “Thunder” Tumlin for that job.

The past four years have proven that voters chose correctly that fall.

Tumlin, now 66, is a lifelong Mariettan with a law degree from Georgia State University and a thriving CPA practice. He’s a former state legislator, former chairman of the Marietta School Board and former chairman of the BLW. He and his wife, Jean Alice, have three grown children and a growing brood of grandchildren. Tumlin has given a lifetime of service to his city, and has earned the right to give it more.

Highlights of Tumlin’s term have been many. They include:

• Concrete steps to increase transparency at City Hall. Tumlin persuaded the council to move all of its meetings and those of the BLW board from a cramped upstairs room to the spacious council chambers where they could be easily seen, heard and videotaped;

• Empowering a building height committee for the area around the Marietta Square, and then successfully fending off efforts by Councilman Philip Goldstein to use the court system to outflank the committee;

• Persuading city voters to help pass the 2011 county road SPLOST, which included $44 million in improvements for the city;

• Supporting passage of a Historic Preservation Ordinance that included protections for property owners;

• Backing creation of the 20/20 Citizens Vision Committee;

• Working with that group and others to plant badly needed shade trees along Church Street;

• Masterminding the 150th anniversary weekend of “The Great Locomotive Chase,” which was a boon for downtown, and helping do the same for the upcoming 150th anniversary of The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, which should pay even greater dividends for the city; and

• Implementing the 2009 $25 million city parks bond.

As most readers know, Tumlin is the driving force behind Tuesday’s $68 million bond referendum that would see a badly needed remake of the long-neglected Franklin Road corridor and also bring sidewalks and other improvements to Whitlock Avenue, increasing the area’s walkability.

Tumlin’s vision for Franklin Road is on the ballot on Tuesday, just like he is. At this point, he and the bond are almost synonymous.

Thunder Tumlin has more than earned another term as mayor, and both he and the bond deserve your vote Tuesday.

Don't forget Tumlin has been a strong advocate for continuing life, obesity, injury and death via automobile.

Let's be honest: The pretty sidewalks are intended only to be pretty while you drive past them.

If "vision" is "more of the same," Tumlin is the guy.

Actually Tumlin is the guy no matter what, as the other guy is just the usual crackpot, isn't he?

We need to get rid of the car dealers on 41, and then we can get rid of the local media paid for by the car dealers on 41, and then we can stop being brainwashed about how cars are SOOoooOoOO great and make us SooOSOsooOSOooOo sexy (Rubenesque, perhaps?), and then maybe we can move this place forward in some direction other than straight toward the dump.

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